Moving from Italy to Greece
A short Mediterranean hop between two neighbours, inside the European Union and the euro. Here is what it really costs to move a home from Italy to Greece, how long the road and ferry trip takes, why there is no customs barrier, and how to register once you arrive.
Moving from Italy to Greece is one of the easier international moves in Europe, a short hop between two Mediterranean neighbours that share a sea, a climate, and a relaxed coastal way of life. People make this move for work, for retirement, for a partner, or simply for a change of scene that keeps them close to home. Because both countries are in the European Union and the euro, the administrative side is light and there is no customs barrier to navigate.
The logistics are usually a road and ferry job. A removals truck loads your home in Italy and drives to an Adriatic port such as Ancona, Bari, or Venice, then crosses to Patras or Igoumenitsa on a vehicle ferry, before driving on to your door anywhere in Greece. For an island destination, an onward domestic ferry completes the trip. For smaller loads, a shared groupage service that combines several households on the same route keeps the cost down.
This guide gives you indicative 2026 costs you can plan around, an honest timeline, why there is no customs duty within the single market, and how to register as a resident once you arrive, including the all important AFM tax number. Treat the figures as planning ranges and get a binding pre move survey for a number you can rely on.
What it costs to move from Italy to Greece.
A move from Italy to Greece is a road and ferry job across the Adriatic. The figure turns on your volume, whether you take a shared groupage load or a dedicated truck, any island leg, and the access at both ends. Ranges below are indicative for 2026 and door to door.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in US dollars, door to door by road and ferry. Volume, the ferry leg, any island delivery, the season, and access at both ends move the figure. Shared groupage is cheaper but slower. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
The biggest lever is volume, since road freight is priced by the space your goods take in the truck, so a clear out before the survey directly lowers the cost. After that, a shared groupage load is cheaper than a dedicated truck but slower, because the vehicle picks up and drops off several households along the way, while a dedicated truck travels straight through and suits a full home or a tight timeline. The Adriatic ferry is built into the price, and an island destination adds a domestic ferry leg and onward handling. Access matters too, since a narrow lane in an Italian hill town or a Greek island village may need a smaller shuttle vehicle, so flag both addresses to your surveyor.
How long a move from Italy to Greece takes.
From first quote to the last box unpacked, an Italy to Greece move usually runs about two to four weeks once you include planning. The road and ferry trip itself is quick. Here is a realistic sequence.
Book two to four weeks ahead
Arrange your pre move survey and confirm a mover early. A shared groupage load depends on the operator filling a truck heading to Greece, so flexible dates help, while a dedicated truck can be scheduled more precisely.
One to two days on site
Professional packing of a two to three bedroom home takes a day or two. Everything is inventoried, fragile pieces are wrapped and crated, and the load is secured for the road and ferry journey.
A few days to about a week
A dedicated truck drives to an Adriatic port, crosses to Patras or Igoumenitsa, and drives on to your home in a few days. A shared groupage load takes longer because of the collection and delivery stops along the route.
Same arrival, no clearance
Because both countries are in the European Union single market, your used household goods move freely with no customs duty and no import clearance. The truck proceeds straight to delivery.
One day on the mainland, longer to an island
The truck delivers to your home and the crew unpacks. An island destination adds a domestic ferry leg, and tight access in an old town may call for a shuttle vehicle, so confirm the details with your agent in advance.
Customs and the single market when moving from Italy to Greece.
Italy and Greece are both members of the European Union and its customs union and single market, so a move between them is an internal European move, not an import. Your used household goods travel freely with no customs duty, no import VAT, and no transfer of residence procedure. This is one of the genuine advantages of moving within the EU, and it removes the paperwork and timing risk that comes with shipping to a third country.
There is no customs barrier, but a few practical points still apply. Keep a clear inventory of what you are moving for the mover's records and your insurance, and note that controlled items such as firearms, certain plants, and large quantities of alcohol or tobacco have their own rules even within the EU. A vehicle can be driven onto the ferry or transported and then registered in Greece under the standard process for bringing in a car from another EU country.
The bigger task in Greece is administrative rather than customs related. Soon after arriving you obtain your AFM, the Greek tax registration number issued by the local tax office known as the DOY, and your AMKA social security number. The AFM underpins a rental contract, utilities, a bank account, and daily life, so securing it early is the key to settling in smoothly.
Residence and registration from Italy to Greece.
As Italian citizens are EU nationals, you have the right to live and work in Greece under free movement, so there is no visa to apply for. The task is registration rather than a permit. These are the steps that matter most.
As an EU citizen you may move to Greece to live and work without a visa. For a stay beyond three months you register your residence with the authorities, which is straightforward with proof of work, study, or sufficient means and health cover.
- Type
- Free movement
- For
- EU citizens
- Basis
- EU citizenship
Your AFM is the Greek tax registration number, issued by the local tax office known as the DOY. You need it for a lease, utilities, a bank account, and customs, so obtaining it soon after arrival is the most useful single step.
- Type
- Registration
- For
- New residents
- Basis
- Move to Greece
The AMKA is your Greek social security number, which connects you to healthcare and the social system and is needed to work and to access public services as a resident.
- Type
- Registration
- For
- Residents, workers
- Basis
- Settling in Greece
EU citizens staying long term register for a residence certificate confirming their right to reside, which is part of becoming a settled resident rather than a visitor.
- Type
- Residence record
- For
- Long stay EU citizens
- Basis
- Permanent move
How to choose a mover for this route, with no names attached.
This site never names, ranks, or recommends a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that separates a safe international mover from a risky one. Apply it to every quote you receive on the Italy to Greece lane.
Get Moving Quotes for Italy to Greece.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Italy to Greece in 2026?
A road and ferry move for a 2 to 3 bedroom home typically runs about 2,500 to 7,000 US dollars for a shared groupage load and 4,200 to 8,500 dollars for a dedicated part load, door to door. A studio is less and a larger home more. Volume, any island leg, and access drive the figure. These are indicative 2026 ranges, not quotes.
How long does moving from Italy to Greece take?
Door to door, plan on roughly one to two weeks for the move itself. A dedicated truck drives to an Adriatic port, crosses to Patras or Igoumenitsa, and reaches your home in a few days, while a shared groupage load takes longer because of stops along the route. Add planning time before that.
Do I pay customs duty moving from Italy to Greece?
No. Italy and Greece are both in the European Union single market, so your used household goods move freely with no customs duty, no import VAT, and no transfer of residence procedure. Keep an inventory for insurance, and note that controlled items have their own rules even within the EU.
Do I need a visa to move from Italy to Greece?
No. As an Italian citizen you are an EU national with the right to live and work in Greece under free movement. For a stay beyond three months you register your residence. This is general information, not immigration advice.
What is an AFM and do I need one to move to Greece?
The AFM is the Greek tax registration number, issued by the local tax office known as the DOY. You need it for a lease, utilities, a bank account, and customs, so securing it early is one of the most useful things you can do when moving from Italy.
Which ferry route do movers from Italy use to reach Greece?
Most road moves cross the Adriatic from an Italian port such as Ancona, Bari, or Venice to Patras or Igoumenitsa in Greece. From the Greek port the truck drives on to your home, with an onward domestic ferry if you are settling on an island.